Another Central Florida Car Dealership Closing Down Immediately

A second major dealership in Central Florida has suddenly closed its doors, one day after another major dealership shut down.

BILL HEARD CLOSES: Dealership Closed, Hundreds Left Unemployed

Employees at Courtesy Pontiac Buick GMC told Eyewitness News that they were called to a meeting at 9:00am Wednesday and informed the dealership would close, effective immediately. Employees were told that not enough cars are being sold to stay in business.

Courtesy Pontiac Buick GMC is located on Highway 17-92 in Longwood and has about 70 employees. It is one of more than 20 Courtesy dealerships in Central Florida.

At least one man who planned to buy a Pontiac G6 on Thursday got the call Wednesday night from the dealership to tell him he'd have to go somewhere else for his car.

"It's the second dealership going under in the last two days. It's scary. You gotta wonder what's going on," customer Peter Butt told Eyewitness News.

The parent company, Auto Nation, called the move a "strategic consolidation." A spokesman told Eyewitness News that Orlando has six other Buick GMC Pontiac dealerships and some of the employees will relocate to other Courtesy dealerships. Other employees have been told they will lose their jobs.

Auto Nation says the company is sound, but in a slow market they need to consolidate.

This comes one day after Bill Heard Chevrolet announced it's closing all of its delearships, including their Central Florida locations.

Previous Stories: September 25, 2008: Bill Heard Chevrolet Closes Dealership Leaving Hundreds Unemployed